The Republican journal., 1887-05-26
From the "Kennebecker" at Sea.

|
The "kittcry Legend. or Grave by the Sea-
culled from some of last wears papers. an,
such poetry and sea lore that is more thai
interesting to me. ! see in recent issue, 81,
last fall, which is recent to wandcrer like me-
a notice of the McCaslin family of Castinc.
made pilgrimage to the historical tow
few years ago, and anything connected will
it arrests my attention at once. | know tn,
McCaslin boys will not think am treSpa>>ir.
on their grounds or mutilating their family
tree, if tell what know about them. The
notice referred to has one slight error. II
says, ''no two of the family are in one place
Reuben, the eldest sou, and Charles, better
known as Rubc and Charlie. are, or were at
that time, both located at Shan.hac. where they
have lived for many years. Andrew, another
brother, went to China in command Of the
celebrated Boston ship "Parament," and has
sailed in and ont of Shanghac for years in
| command of different steamers; but last year
had charge of one of the Hong Kong and Manila
line Of steamers. They are an adventurous
race, and well worth notice. hope am doing
no harm by bringing them before the public
once more; it is with highest respect and
kindlic>t regard that do so.
knew Capt Reuben many wears ago, when
| chief officer of the crack Baltimore clipper tea
ship "Manharin." Capt. George rarrott. COM
mander. He was a splendid specimen of the
Maine sailor in the days when to be mate of a
China trader was to be something in the world.
| He had passed through many adventurous
| scenes, and now was ''cycry inch Il man. In
| the piping times of adventure in China he was
| there, and obtained command of the Imperial
gun beat 'ConfucouS.' | met him ON the
lan"tSz in 1SG2-2. and this was the steamer
presume in which he came to the rescue of his
aunt when she was ship wrecked. which event
| occurred after left.
When in the California mines years before.
he had Il chum from New York. They Went
to that city years aftcrward. and he was
introduced by his friend to the lal, he married,
a member of a very fine family. She joined
him in China and remained there some Years,
and they had children. Going home TO have
them educated, she took passage in the clipper
ship "Fearlc->'' of which | was chief mate.
We went int" Manila to load. there were many
other passengers. and it was a tedious time to
her. Among the passengers was Il nephew of
the then Secretary of state, VIM. II. Seward.
The passengers brother, George +. Seward
was at that time Consul General TO China and
afterwards Minister to lckin. He was Il par
tcuar friend Of Capt. llcCaSiin'S.
Well. the children largely fell to my care as
N,l of all ll,J IL I
the captain occasionally in China, and his wife
in New York. The children crew up. the
boys went 10 China like their father. and are
doing well. Then the daughter went out with
Capt. Ed. Blanchard and his wifi, in the ship
"lienrictta, of Scar>port. Fancy their meet
lle had never seen her. There was a boy born
that he lad never seen, until they liz, III thina.
| have little Elias and her brother Charities
pictures as they appeared when Reuben parted
from them on the deck of the Fearless so
many years ago. and could tell her by it now.
Then Ms. NJ. disposed OF the property in
New York, and followed hy mail. and in their
house, reunited. met them last year and
was welcome visitor.
After Il long, drcary voyage from New York,
anchored in the lmgtsz ut night and went to
Sleep all worn cut. vt daylight in the morn-
i'm when the steward brought nc my coffee.
he said 4 tow boat was alongside. | rushed mp
on deck Just in time TO my old friend
thallie-Capt. Charles Mcra>ln-- coming over
the gangway. "What. Why. Charley? What
are you doing here" Wei, we heard day he
L.
come down to tow You up. and here are your
letters, and Your folks are all WE'LL "iloW do
you know they arc all well; don't tant,lizc
me. Il had left them very miserable and had
grave doubts about theml "Why Capt. Wells
ana Captain Perkins told sclioomalcS and
nei@hbor- OF mincl told me tn tell you SO, and
Capt. Pratt and Captain Bas>rtt and all the
rest of Your friends. told ne to tow YOU M.
Surc'"
That's the way to board Il ship and to get a
tow, and after had almost tainted and almost
kissed Charlie and asked him siic!I very undig-
nfrd questions about what he would tow me
up for, and he said, "Iou are outside the stu
ton, but will call that nothing and the rest
1T regular tariff rates. and you will be in town
before the offices close | was not very long
making up my mind. wanted to send ,les-
patch to Boston and Maine ''arriyed. all wcll'
50 they would have it on the kennchre in the
morning. and yelled. "Man the windlas>, =
''gct up the hlw>cr." tell you the chief OIL
ccr. Who had Il wife and children in ScarSport
was not long in Introducing himself to Capt
McCa>lin, with the end of our tow rope; for
would not that same despatch 90 through Bel
fast to Searsport Lying: "Ilcaye. hcayc. and
break ont that ,,ilchor."
Capt. Charles. As YOU will see hy this. had
been superintendent of powerful tow boat
company at Shan.hac fer years. He has often
told me the story of his youth. He was
ing q Baltimore ship at that time. lie came to
China in the ship "toniya." of Boston. (There
were two Coniya> of Boston.) Before he rang
the bell to 20 ahcu,l he called his steward and
told him TO pass up what fresh beef he had,
some phca>ant>, potatoes, vegetables and eggs
Now we We're nearly six months ont. and
needed these luNureS very much, but Charlie
McCas!n is the only one that ever did such a
thing for me, except one, and that was in
Japan. NO Boston or New ! ORR Steamboat
man or pilot ever did it.
Capt. Reuben, the oldest pilot on the Iangt>z,
t ok my ship out. a storm came on and we
anchored in the river. where we laid two DAYS
while the Gale howled outside. 1t was bitter
and cold weather, and by a cheerful fire in our
coy cabin the time flew quickly by. Then
learned from his own lips the fascinating story
of the veterans life. There is a birds eve
view of Gardiner, Me. hanging over my cabin
table. and pointing to the Cobbosscccontec
stream, which cuts the city into halves as it
flows into the kcnncbec: ''Therc.' said the
Captain. cup that stream my grandfather lived,
as Mc(allSelanh. Comm. to the penobsrot he
changed it to McCasln.'' He was Il lad on
board the famed New York ship "Flavils"
when my ncighbor Davis was mate. The Cap
tain was washed overheard, and ID. cot his
command. lie was young sailor in the Gulf
Squadron during the Mexican War. and at the
taking of Nera-C rmz got Il command as a quasi
saIor-Soldicr under Scott.
lie was Il gol,l-huntcr i'm California in early
days; mate of big New York ships, an officer
in George Lows celebrated bark. '.Grapc
shot," under Capt. Rodney Baxter. the vessel